For the first time, the Michelin Guide featured restaurants from the Carolinas, including Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Restaurants in the Carolinas finally had the opportunity to earn a coveted Michelin star as the prestigious guide announced back in April it would expand into the South. It all came to a head on Monday as the winners were announced.
Michelin Guide inspectors explored restaurants in the new footprint for months, making reservations and searching for the finest establishments that meet their prestigious standards. The full 2025 restaurant selection was revealed Monday evening, but WCNC Charlotte got a sneak peek.
Counter-, a popular tasting menu restaurant in Charlotte, brought home not only one Michelin Star but also a Green Star, which recognizes a restaurant’s “leadership in sustainable gastronomy.” Chef Sam Hart has been working diligently for years with the aim of earning their west Charlotte restaurant a star.ย
Colleen Hughes, Head of Mixology at Supperland, a Plaza Midwood restaurant housed in a restored mid-century church known for upscale Southern cuisine, was awarded Michelin’s Cocktail Award for exceptional mixology.ย
“This award honors those who don’t just mix ingredients, they craft moments that stick with us,” host Java Ingram said.ย
East Charlotteโs Lang Van received the Bib Gourmand distinction which denotes restaurants that offer “exceptionally good food at moderate prices.”ย
Lang Van’s green and white facade, warm lighting and even warmer bowls of pho have been a staple for decades.
More Charlotte and Charlotte-area restaurants earned Michelin recognition:ย
- Customshop in Elizabeth
- Ever Andalo in NoDa
- Hello Sailor in Cornelius
- Kindred in Davidson
- Little Mama’s in SouthPark
- Omakase Experience by Prime Fish in Ballantyne
- Prime Fish in Ballantyne
- Rada in Meyers Parkย
- Restaurant Constance in west Charlotte
The Michelin Guide teamed with Travel South USA for the “Michelin Guide: American South” that covered Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.ย
The Michelin Guide was started by the Michelin tire company as a little red book in 1889 in France. This guide was filled with travel information, like maps and information on how to change a tire and where to fuel up. In 1920, the guide included a list of hotels and restaurants in Paris. In 1926, the guide began awarding stars to fine dining establishments, and in 1936, the criteria for the starred rankings were published.
Now, the Michelin Guide is an expert-curated, food-focused travel guide that highlights the finest restaurants, hotels and attractions worldwide. Inspectors follow five universal criteria to ensure each selection meets the cut. The criteria include quality products, the harmony of flavors, the mastery of cooking techniques, the voice and personality of the chef reflected in the cuisine and consistency between each visit and throughout the menu. Each restaurant is inspected several times per year to ensure consistency.ย
Well-known food writer and journalist Shindy Chen joined WCNC+ ahead of the announcements.ย
“Charlotte has historically not been known as a foodie destination,” Chen said. “You know, when you think of like food cities, you think more Charleston in the South, or you think even Asheville has gotten a lot of recognition. So what happened was the tourism board invested heavily with Michelin to bring the inspectors to our region. So, over the past several months, the inspectors are anonymous. They basically visit several restaurants multiple times. They want consistency. They evaluate the food quality. They evaluate the value. They evaluate how much of the chef’s personality comes through and the menu and the flavor and the quality of the food. So that’s how they determine which restaurants get notoriety and recognition.”
One Michelin star is awarded to restaurants using top-quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavors are prepared to a consistently high standard.
Two Michelin stars are given when the personality and talent of the chef are evident in their expertly crafted dishes; their food is refined and inspired.
Three Michelin stars are the guide’s highest award, given for the superlative cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession; their cooking is elevated to an art form, and some of their dishes are destined to become classics.
“There’s only 16 three-star Michelin restaurants in the whole country, and I’ve been to roughly half of them, and it’s just a level that I don’t think Charlotte has quite yet,” Chen admitted.
Other U.S. Michelin Guides include New York, Chicago, California, Florida, Atlanta and Texas.ย
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